Hi MekongDelta69,

Thanks for bumping this up.

I've been sorta busy (understatement).

Ah, yes, the alternatives.

Have a look at the CastleCops Download page on antivirus apps: /downloads-cat-7.html

I would suggest if you're looking for payware with excellent coding and good customer service:

AVG Pro by Grisoft (page 1)
AntiVir Pro (page 1) (I use the freeware one.)
Kaspersky (on page 2)
Panda Platinum (page 2)

HTH

_________________

Microsoft MVP Consumer Security 2006, 2007 & 2008

Another excellent paid antivirus is NOD32. IMHO there is none better.

http://www.nod32.com/home/home.htm

I know NOD32 is excellent. I have NIS 2003, which hogs a lot of resources
and customer (dis)service is nil (unless you want to pay $$ to talk to
someone who you can't understand and can't answer your question(s)).

What I'd also need (in addition to NOD32) is something that would take
the place of the Firewall portion of NIS. Anything comparably good in that
department that's compatible with NOD32?

Also (and I know I've read it in one of the threads I have - maybe written
by Donna), I'd need a detailed, step-by-step de-installation instruction
set for getting rid of NIS (including the manual registry cleanup, etc., etc.).
I'll see if I can find that thread somewhere, because I know getting
rid of Norton is a real pain in the ass!

Thanks,
Mike_______

I've never used NOD32 but a lot of security people like it. Thanks Yellowhammer.

How to Uninstall NIS 2005

It shows how to reinstall too. Just ignore that.

ZoneAlarm Firewall. Here's the freeware version download page (which is extremely hard to locate on their site btw): http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp

HTH

_________________

Microsoft MVP Consumer Security 2006, 2007 & 2008

Hi Mike,

Yes they have a pay one, which is why it's so hard to find that free link. As for their customer service, I wouldn't know. I've always used the free one. It's been...let's see, five years. Tried others but ZA is the least amount of hassle. Set it and forget it.

We do have a ZoneAlarm Forum here. They would know. They might even know about NOD32?

Here are the instructions you need:

Uninstalling Norton Internet Security 2003


All the best from Larry

_________________

Microsoft MVP Consumer Security 2006, 2007 & 2008

NOD will not interfere with ZoneAlarm. I think Sygate Personal Firewall is better than ZoneAlarm. It is free as well.

I ( MekongDelta69 ) would like to thank you ( Anonymous ) both!
[Sorry! - Just messing with the Input Parms!]

That's right - it's Larry! You directed me to your pic once.
You write for C.C. if I remember correctly(?)

I did subsequently find the Uninstall NIS 2003 directions (I save everything!),
along with this too:

Cannot delete navshext.dll . . ." when deleting the Norton AntiVirus program folder
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/8d071816eedd7cac88256c0e005a96e5/b45ca3de0b4ec9ca88256acc0050c9e0?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam

and another:

Removing Norton AntiVirus 2003 or earlier by using the Rnav2003.exe
removal utility when Add/Remove programs fails
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/docid/2001092114452606?Open&src=bar_sch_nam&docid=2001091907501606&nsf=nav.nsf&view=8d071816eedd7cac88256c0e005a96e5&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=
etc., etc.

O.K. Larry - I give up! How do I place alternate text for a URL on this board
(such as you have for):
Uninstalling Norton Internet Security 2003
[i.e.: the text that would go in between the ">" and the "</a>" in HTML]?

Thank also to you Y.H.

This post seems to help out a lot of people too (those who are up to
here with Symantec...

Mike_________

Hi Mike,

We use BBcode here as well as html here. Thus:

Is this what you wanted?

Btw, I agree that Sygate Free Firewall is a good one but it's rule based. (I hate writing my own rules which is why I use ZA.)

_________________

Microsoft MVP Consumer Security 2006, 2007 & 2008

I tried using HTML, but it didn't work, so that's why I put it the way I did.

Let's see if this works (or I'll edit it if it doesn't!):

Cannot delete navshext.dll . . ." when deleting the Norton AntiVirus program folder

Removing Norton AntiVirus 2003 or earlier by using the Rnav2003.exe removal utility when Add/Remove programs fails

[I see in Preview Mode that it does work, but cuts the titles short (just as
it would do for a long URL) -- Close enough for government work!]

Thanks Larry

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Sooooooo, basically you guys are saying the ZA and Sygate Firewalls are
both good, but it's just a matter of taste?

Btw, what 'perks' do you get if you purchase them (rather than use the
free versions)?

Thanks,

Mike___________

ZoneLabs Product Info Yes, keep your titles short.

http://www.sygate.com/ It seems that Symantec is buying Sygate out.

Happy to Help.

_________________

Microsoft MVP Consumer Security 2006, 2007 & 2008

Symantec bought Sygate 6 weeks ago.

ZA is owned by Checkpoint.

This is from CNET ZoneAlarm vs. ZoneAlarm Pro

I use the free one because it's a good basic firewall that passes the test at Gibson Research: Shields Up. All my ports are stealthed. I personally believe that less is more. Some people like lots of "bells and whistles." I prefer a more spartan approach, less hassle.

I'm the wrong one to ask about ZA Pro anyway. Never used it. If you need more info go to our ZoneAlarm Forum and ask.

_________________

Microsoft MVP Consumer Security 2006, 2007 & 2008

I think I've checked every tech. site, comparison site, reader opinion site,
review site, opinion site, not to mention all the forums on here (and elsewhere)
and have come to the conclusion that no single firewall, anti-virus,
Internet 'suite', etc., etc., is tops in anyone's book.

Everyone has either a gripe or a tech. problem with every single one
of them! That's why I have about five or six separate anti-spyware,
anti-worm, anti-trojan, anti-adware, anti-everything utilities.

Also, I've (re)read every single article on what a pain it is to uninstall Norton
products (and all the separate programs and steps you have to run to clean
everything out -- every sub-folder, every file, every registry entry, ad infinitum).

So basically, I can either:

1.) Stick with NIS 2003 (and continue it, when my subscription expires);
2.) Upgrade to NIS 2005 (and hope I don't have the same problems
as other people have had);
3a.) Go through the grief of uninstalling NIS 2003 (and hope I get rid of
every shred of it)...
3b.) ...Then buying something completely new (i.e. Zone Alarm Internet Security
Suite 6.0 -- which has its own problems and gripes -- or some equivalent product
from another company) and hope everything goes O.K.

I'm sure if you ask 1,000 people, you'll probably get 1,001 opinions!

A real pain in the a$$!

Btw, just fyi, your CNET link above:
ZoneAlarm vs. ZoneAlarm Pro
doesn't work -- but that's o.k. -- as I said, I found hundreds of other sites.

Thanks Larry - appreciate the help,

Mike___________